Mission

The American Sign Language (ASL) Studies program at UW-Milwaukee strives to provide a rich and rigorous educational experience that allows for students to develop both linguistic proficiency and a deep respect for the Deaf culturo-linguistic community. All courses in the ASL Studies program are taught by native ASL users, which allows for language learning via immersion.

Vision

The ASL Studies Program inspires students interested in American Sign Language and Deaf Culture to develop language fluency and cultural competence in order to pursue excellence in their respective careers, make meaningful connections in the Deaf community and become allies for equality. Our values are based on the Five C’s – Communication, Culture, Community, Cooperation and Collaboration.

ASL Lab

Developing fluency in a language must have a multifaceted approach. In addition to premiere classroom instruction and socializing opportunities provided in the community, the ASL Studies program also has a language lab – the ASL Lab. Students in ASL V, VI and any interpreter training student can access this lab for advanced homework assignments and projects. The lab is unique as it is staffed by all Deaf individuals including two language mentors that are available to advanced students. Language mentoring is a key component to advancing in ASL fluency. Our mentors work collaboratively with all lecturers and staff to guide students in their development.

For more information about the ASL Lab contact Catherine J Giuntoli-Dubois, giuntolc@uwm.edu.

Living Learning Community (LLC)

The purpose of the American Sign Language LLC is to establish a community for Deaf students and students who know or are learning ASL. This unique ASL LLC program will enhance students’ knowledge and in American Sign Language (ASL) outside of the classroom as they build solid relationships with one another and the extended Deaf community. Through these interactions, the ASL LLC gain confidence in the social and cultural diversity of the signing community.

Study Abroad

Study Abroad is a great opportunity to experience the immersion in a visual-gestural language and deaf culture other than American Sign Language and American Deaf Culture. Having students travel immerses them in another country’s visual language environment rather than relying on the audio-verbal environment that they are accustomed to. This leads to enhancing one’s understanding of the visual language of ASL. This three to four-week course is open to ASL and ITP students, as well as Deaf/HH students, and is led by a Deaf study-abroad coordinator/instructor. The instructor will prompt critical comparative analysis between two languages and cultures. Study abroad to other countries vary every other year. We have traveled to Italy, France, and United Kingdom.

ASL/English Interpreting

The mission of the American Sign Language/English Interpreting program is to educate students to be competent bilingual/bicultural interpreters by emphasizing service learning experiences in the Deaf community. Our program philosophy “Deaf Heart Starts Here”, takes hold the moment a student begins their preparation because the path to becoming an interpreter begins with ASL Studies. Students can be confident that when they enter the ITP, they will be competent in ASL, knowledgeable about Deaf Culture and connected to the local Deaf Community.

Career

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says a career as an interpreter is growing much faster than average, with 17 percent growth predicted through 2026. In addition to traditional careers like interpreting, new career possibilities open up as technology evolves. While on the surface, American Sign Language/English Interpreting program may seem like the best match for this field of study, a double major or a minor in ASL Studies can be used to enhance specialized careers such as (but not limited to):

• Education: Whether you work with in a mainstream setting, a residential school or a post-secondary environment, competency in ASL and Deaf culture will equip professionals with the tools to provide or advocate for optimal access for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf Blind students.
  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher
  • Special Education Teacher
  • School Counselor/ School Social Worker
  • School Speech-Language- Pathologist
  • K-12 Education Interpreter
  • Deaf Mentor
  • Paraprofessional
• Healthcare: Medical professionals who know sign language are in demand. Competency in Deaf community and cultural awareness is a great enhancement to your healthcare skills in providing direct access to critical services.
  • Speech-Language Pathologist
  • Audiologists
  • Doctors
  • Nurses
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Clinical Social Work
  • Clinical Psychology
• Government and Law Enforcement: Federal, state, and local government agencies offer opportunities to people skilled in sign language. Office holders who are fluent in ASL can become allies to the Deaf community by facilitating strong relationships between the community and the government as well as its political system.
  • Vocational Rehabilitation
  • State offices
  • Lawyer
  • Commissions
  • Judicial
  • Detention facilities
  • Police Officers
  • Firefighters
  • Responders
• Recreation and Entertainment: Travel agents and tour guides that know sign language can be found working in specialized Deaf programs at travel and tour agencies or even running their own agencies. The ASL Studies Program provides students who choose the entertainment industry with the tools necessary to design their events.
  • Concerts
  • Theaters
  • Professional sporting events
  • After- School program
  • Community events

If you would like to inquire about the limitless benefits of an ASL Studies major or minor to any career path, contact Sunny Brysch at brysch@uwm.edu.

In the News

Sunny Brysch Joins SOE to Lead ASL Program

‘We need more access’: American Sign Language at UWM Opens Doors for Deaf Community

Michigan High School Students Visit ASL/ITP Program

School of Ed Alum Introduces ASL to the NHL

UWM Sign Language Students Tackle A New Challenge: Interpreting Live Theater

Giannis Antetokounmpo Is Called Amazing. Now in Sign Language, Too.

Hamilton’s Witty, Fast-Paced Lyrics Flow Through Fingers of Sign Language Interpreters

Undergraduate Program

American Sign Language is widely used in the United States and Canada. The visual way in which this language is conveyed has gained its status as the most popular world language taken by college students across the U.S. and UWM is no exception enrolling over 500 students per semester into their program. The UW-Milwaukee ASL Studies program provides a strong language and cultural foundation for the students who have a passion for working in the Deaf community as a primary career.

ASL Studies Major

A major in ASL Studies provides students a strong language foundation to pursue careers in which they will work directly with Deaf people. In addition to their GERs, an ASL Studies Major requires a minimum of 45 credits in these areas:

• ASL courses (ASL I-VI): 18 credits
• Deaf Culture & Deaf History: 6 credits
• ASL linguistic studies and advanced skills courses: 18 credits

Students who choose the ASL Studies major are required to complete service-learning experiences in the Deaf community and will learn of the value in gaining citizenship into the community of people who use ASL as their primary language. These service-learning components also bring to light social justice issues that impact the community.

See our section on Careers to explore how an ASL Studies major can enhance your vocational path.

American Sign Language Studies Academic Catalog Requirements

Academic Catalog Requirements Sheet

• Visit the Academic Catalog webpage linked above, then click on the Print Options link in the lower right hand column
• Click the Download Page (PDF) link
• Print or save the condensed program requirements document

ASL Studies Minor

Students who decide to add an ASL Studies minor onto their primary field of study will develop an understanding of the Deaf community, lending itself to future collaborations and expanded job opportunities as an ally to this cultural-linguistic group. ASL minor courses enrich a student’s language and cultural competencies which will enhance a future career. An ASL Studies minor will not be sufficient for fluency in the language, however it will provide a foundation of language, culture and social justice skill sets. Combined with the right major, this addition can enhance any resume.

The ASL Studies Minor requires a minimum of 18 credits in the following courses.

• ASL courses (ASL I-IV): 12 credits
• Deaf Culture 3 credits
• Deaf History 3 credits

American Sign Language Studies Minor Academic Catalog Requirements

Academic Catalog Requirements Sheet

• Visit the Academic Catalog webpage linked above, then click on the Print Options link in the lower right hand column
• Click the Download Page (PDF) link
• Print or save the condensed program requirements document

ASL World Language Teacher Certification

Students interested in teaching ASL as a World Language in a K – 12 educational setting should pursue this program. This teaching certification program is a collaboration with the Curriculum & Instruction department in the School of Education. Students gain their ASL fluency and immersion experience via the ASL Studies Program and the pedagogy training with the World Language Program. During their course work and field experience, students receive support from the teaching staff within the ASL Studies program. For more information, please visit the Early Childhood-Adolescence: Second Language Education webpage.

Advanced Placement Testing

If a student has prior experience with ASL, they may be placed into an advanced level of ASL. The ASL Studies Program offers two pathways that students may choose:

American Sign Language Screening

This assessment is free to university students (incoming and transfer students). ASL courses offered at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee may teach different content than other courses. As a result, an ASL placement screening is conducted to ensure the student will be successful in the class they are placed in. The assessment is done in a virtual interview format by an ASL Studies instructor and is recorded.

The goal of the evaluation is to see how the student responds to different levels of ASL discourse based on our program’s objectives. The interview lasts an average of 15 minutes. Following the interview, the program will review the video and determine the student’s level, then inform the student (within a week) of the level at which they will be most successful. There are no retroactive credits given for ASL regardless of courses taken at other institutions. However, if the student would like retroactive credits or transfer credits, then the ASLPI may be a better option (see below).

Cost? There is no fee, but please fill out the ASL Screening Placement Registration Form to set up an interview.

American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI)

If the student would like retroactive credits or transfer credits for ASL classes, the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) may be a good choice. ASLPI is a language evaluation tool used to determine a person’s ASL proficiency only offered through Gallaudet University. The principle behind this kind of evaluation is to see, through a live, virtual interview, what a person can do with the target language (ASL) at a given point in time in a variety of contexts.

The ASLPI is a 20-25 minute, interactive dialogue between the candidate and the interviewer. The interview is recorded and rated by a team of evaluators. The candidates are awarded an overall proficiency level on a 0-5 rating scale. Based on the rating given, the student will be placed in an appropriate level of ASL in which they will be most successful. In addition, any pre-requirements to that class will be waived and retroactive credits (maximum of 12) will be awarded. Depending on course placement, a student can be eligible for a maximum of 12 retroactive credits by successfully completing the course with a B or better. Ideally, ASLPI is designed for students whose heritage language is ASL or have organically learned ASL from the Deaf community.

For more information, visit the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) webpage.

The ASL Studies Program is unique in that native users of the language teach the courses, so by design, students are having immersion experience from the first day they step into an American Sign Language class. These staff members not only are language experts, they provide the Deaf perspective on the community of people who use ASL.

Sunny BryschAssistant Clinical ProfessorTeaching and Learning(414) 372-0595brysch@uwm.eduEnderis Hall 267

Catherine J. Giuntoli-DuBoisTeaching Faculty IITeaching & Learninggiuntolc@uwm.eduEnderis Hall 271

Theresa SchmechelSign Language Interpreter & Associate LecturerTeaching and Learningtheresas@uwm.eduEnderis Hall 273

Ryne ThorneTeaching Faculty ITeaching & Learning(414) 301-2969rvthorne@uwm.eduEnderis Hall 257

Erin WigginsClinical Assistant ProfessorTeaching and Learningwiggine@uwm.eduEnderis Hall 271

Program Information

For general information or questions about the program, contact:

Sunny Brysch
Assistant Clinical Professor & ASL Director
brysch@uwm.edu

Advising

To discuss your academic plan and coursework, contact an academic advisor:

Office of Student Services Advising
(414) 229-4721
soeinfo@uwm.edu

Academic Advising
(Last names A – L) – Kristin Roosevelt
(Last names M – Z) – Nikki Claas